What is a girl to do? ranting

[Shinka]

Okay ladies so i've ben natural for about a year, but I've been growing my hair out since october from nothing.

My dilemma is this, I like natual hair,but I don't like the styles that most naturals have. I looked at alot of photo albums of naturals and their hair is beautiful. But I don't like the look of twist and braids and afro puffss forever. Then again, I don't want to be a natural who presses her hair every week also.

My hair is in that between phase with 2 inches. Too short to really press and have a style and I'm tired of twists and afro ( which causes lots of tangles).

Basically I having a love/hate relationship for my natural hair and I'm trying to figure it all out. I had my cousin braid it yesterday to prevent me from doing something drastic. I just need to rant and see if any of you ladies have any advice or similar experience.

thanks for reading. hehe

 

[DahomeyAmazon]

Putting in braids was a very good idea. You can always keep them in until your hair reaches a more workable length. My favorite shorter hair style to wear was a shake n' go w/ a headband. It got me through many a bad hair day. Anyway, good luck on your natural journey.

 

[msvaye]

I seen your pics, your hair does look cute (especially in the happy nappy and first puff and the coils), I agree with DahomeyAmazon. Braids helped me alot, it also helped me stay natural and to experiment with many styles after taking braids down. It does take time to learn your natural hair. Good luck

.

 

[bettydavis]

I know how you feel, braids have helped me alot too. I agree with the others... Just try to be patient is all I can say...maybe once you have more hair to work with you'll feel differently. Your hair is very pretty though.

 

[NGC]

[ QUOTE ]
DahomeyAmazon said:
Putting in braids was a very good idea. You can always keep them in until your hair reaches a more workable length. My favorite shorter hair style to wear was a shake n' go w/ a headband. It got me through many a bad hair day. Anyway, good luck on your natural journey.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree. Even though I didn't know it at the time, I "transitioned" for about 18 months in extension braids. When I took them out and cut the relaxed ends off, I had 9 inches to work with.

Keep them in braids until you are comfortable.

Good Luck!

 

[alibi]

I think the most important thing to consider when thinking about growing out natural hair is what types of styles you like to wear day to day. If you're really true to yourself about how you like to wear your hair, it'll make the decision a lot easier. For instance, I've relaxed my hair since I was 12, and now I'm transitioning. I first made the decision to transition b/c the relaxer was damaging to my hair, but overall, I also know that I love big, bouncy, curly hair, so that's my goal. I'm not big on braids and twists for myself, although I think they look fabulous on others. So it would not have been realistic for me to grow out my hair only to be stuck wearing braids and twists if that's not what I want for myself. Does that make any sense? I hope so (it's late!

) Anyway, if you're new to the natural thing, spend some time condering how you'll wear your hair once it gets longer. You have to really get in touch w/ your hair type and talk to others who have hair like yours. Now I'm not saying that we all don't get in styling ruts, b/c we do. But overall, you probably need to just think about how it is that you like to wear your hair. This really helped me during the time when I was struggling w/ whether or not to relax again. HTH

 

[BLESSED1]

I'm seriously considering transitioning, but my favorite style is slicking my hair back and putting in a phony-pony. Does anyone think that I can still do that when my 4a/b hair is natural? I usually have no problem with my edges when I'm due for a relaxer, I slick it back with s-curl gel and I'm good to go. TIA

 

[Dolce_Dawn]

Shinka- I have a suggestion if you're interested. You don't have to get your hair pressed all the time, but maybe to get out of your hairstyling funk you could wear your hair spiked a la Halle Berry, Nona Hendrix from back in the day or (I can't think of the other black girl's name). What I mean is, get it pressed, make sure the ends are evenly cut (no straggly ends) and spike it outwards w/ a molding paste. I don't know if I'm accurately describing it (bear w/me LOL...

) but I just peeked at you photos and I think your pretty round face would support a hairstyle like that!

You could switch it up: braids for a few wks, Halle/Nona another wk, etc, etc. Don't give in to boredom!

 

[GodMadeMePretty]

I love that hairstyle. Very cute.

 

[kitchen_tician]

I love your hair! You and your hair are very pretty.

I agree with Dolce Dawn with the "spikey" look. My GF wears her hair like that alot. I hope we're talking about the same look. I'm thinking more like "Fantasia" from AI. I think Sebastian has a good molding mud.

 

[Karonica]

I can definitely see you with the spikes.

I wanted some myself, but my hair is a little too long....I'm gonna get a little bit more chopped off tomorrow.

 

[NubianAngel]

OOoh another chop! Gurl we gone take away your long hair card

Im just playing

 

[NubianAngel]

[ QUOTE ]
BLESSED1 said:
I'm seriously considering transitioning, but my favorite style is slicking my hair back and putting in a phony-pony. Does anyone think that I can still do that when my 4a/b hair is natural? I usually have no problem with my edges when I'm due for a relaxer, I slick it back with s-curl gel and I'm good to go. TIA

[/ QUOTE ]

I 've done this style with my 4a/b hair from time to time. I used some gel and a scarf to lay the waves down, and I used a phony pony with a tight corkscrew texture in the back to match.

 

[BLESSED1]

Thanks NubianAngel

 

[Shinka]

Thanks ladies for the support. I love the ideas. I have to try the spike thing. Yeah I think I'm going to use "fake" ahir to change up mu look unitl my hair grows out. I think I just get like this with really short hair, I had my hair cut in a halle berry when it was permed what 3 years ago. When I started to grow it out I cut so bored with the minus two hairs styles I could do. I like my braids I'm going to keep hem in for the summer. Then when I go back to college maybe I get those tree braids Dont Speak Defeat has in here album. One of the benefits is that I can have the long hair look while my hair grows ( my hair loves braids it grows so well in them).

Truthfully, I love BOBs and Wraps and roller set hair. But I also love twist outs and braids out and bantu knots with natural hair. I think they look so much fuller with natural hair.

But I really don't want to perm, I use to have so many problems perming. Well that was my fault I use to perm every 4 weeks ( I was a straight hair anti-kink junkie...so that's could be where the problems originated.)

I think I give my self a personal challenge in order to not do anything drastic and keep my hair in braids and/or weaves for a year in 2 month spurts. In between, I just rock my natural hair for a month break. Hopefully I'll get about 6 inches of growth that way. Wish me luck